A few days back Karnataka government unveiled a proposal to construct a 125-feet tall statue of ‘Mother Kaveri’ at Brindavan Gardens in Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir near Mysuru at a cost of Rs 1,200 crores. The state government has claimed the statue will be a tribute to the river that is often called ‘mother’.

People of Kodagu are not happy with the announcement at this point of time when the district is yet to come to terms with the massive floods and landslides. Rehabilitation is going on at a slow place in the land of River Kaveri.

MADIKERI: Thousands of devotees witnessed ‘Talakaveri, which occurred at the scheduled time of 6.43pm, at Talakaveri, the origin of River Kaveri, today.

Religious rituals were performed from afternoon. The priests continuously chanted vedic hymns sitting in a row near Brahmakundike. They sprinkled holy water on devotees, soon after ‘Theerthodbhava’ occurred. Devotees arrived with cans, pots, tins and bottles to fill the holy water.

The Madikeri-Talakaveri main road was done up to facilitate smooth traffic movement. Police made elaborate arrangements to regulate the movement of devotees and vehicular traffic.

MADIKERI: This year ‘Theerthodbhava’ will occur at 6.43pm on October 17 in Talakaveri , according to an official communique.

The Kodagu district administration is putting in place necessary facilities like drinking water, temporary toilet blocks, parking and lighting in Talakaveri and Bhagamandala. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be providing more buses from all parts of the district to the venue.

Apart from devotees from Kodagu, people from Mandya, Mysuru and Bengaluru, and also from neighbouring Kerala and Tamil Nadu are expected to witness the religious ceremonies.

As per the schedule, following rituals will take place till ‘Theerthodbhava’ – placing of rice in Paththaya on September 27, Aajna muhurtha on October 5, and placing of Akshaya pathra and offering boxes on October 15.